Petersburg feeling the punch of Tropical Storm Elsa; streets are closed

PETERSBURG — Tropical Storm Elsa was in town for only a few hours, but it sure did make its presence felt.

Exact rain totals were not immediately available, but the National Weather Service office in Wakefield had predicted as much as three inches of precipitation would fall as the storm passed through.

Rain fell heavily and steady for about 5-6 hours Thursday and Thursday night. The city reported several streets flooded all over the city.

“The city is asking that traffic stay away from these areas and that people stay off the roads [Thursday night] if possible,” Petersburg city spokeswoman Joanne Williams said in an email Thursday night. City crews had barricades already in place prior to the high point of the storm, and they were put into position once the streets started flooding.

Some of the heaviest flooding appeared to be on East Wythe Street between Jefferson Street and Interstate 95. Petersburg resident Jacorey Jones posted a photo on his Facebook page where water completely covered all travel lanes and the water level was almost halfway up the side of a car parked on the street.

Other residents took to Facebook to report flash flooding on East Washington Street at the railroad overpass near East Bank Street and at the city bus garage near Pecan Acres.

East Bank Street was closed from North Old Church Street west to Madison Street. Water was high enough to force the closure of the Bank Street interchange off Interstate 95.

Flooding was also reported along River Street in Old Towne, Bollingbrook Street between Madison Street and North Crater Road, and Defense Road between Squirrel Level Road and Baylor’s Lane.